2027 Elections: Opposition Candidates Question Peace Accord as Tinubu Preaches Peace

2027 Elections: Opposition Candidates Question Peace Accord as Tinubu Preaches Peace

ABUJA — As Nigeria formally moves into another intense election season, doubts raised by leading opposition presidential candidates over the effectiveness of the National Peace Accord have reopened a fundamental question ahead of the 2027 general elections: Can political agreements alone guarantee peaceful, credible and transparent elections when compliance largely depends on the conduct of politicians, institutions and their supporters?

Presidential candidates on Tuesday signed the National Peace Accord in Abuja ahead of the commencement of campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. But rather than ending concerns about electoral violence and credibility, the ceremony exposed reservations among some opposition candidates over whether the accord can deliver meaningful results beyond symbolic commitments.

The event, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre, brought together presidential candidates, political party leaders, representatives of the Presidency and National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organisations and members of the diplomatic community.

Tinubu: 2027 Election Must Not Be ‘Do-or-Die’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the ceremony by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, declared that the 2027 general election should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.

The President’s position comes at a crucial moment as political parties prepare to begin nationwide campaigns and competition for the presidency and National Assembly seats intensifies.

The peace initiative is designed to encourage political actors to conduct issue-based campaigns and reject violence, character assassination, fake news, insults and inflammatory statements capable of destabilising the electoral process.

Former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, similarly urged candidates and political parties to embrace responsible campaigning and peaceful conduct.

But despite those assurances, some opposition candidates are asking whether signing another document is sufficient to guarantee the type of election Nigerians expect in 2027.

Peter Obi Questions Need for Peace Accord

One of the strongest reservations came from Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who questioned why political leaders seeking Nigeria’s highest office should require an agreement before behaving responsibly.

Obi argued that the personal conduct of candidates should naturally reflect the dignity and responsibility of the offices they seek.

He also maintained that Nigerians themselves should politically punish candidates and parties that violate the principles of peaceful democratic competition by refusing to vote for them.

Obi said he had no fear about the 2027 election but called for an electoral process in which Nigerians can be confident that their votes will count.

His argument goes to the heart of the controversy surrounding political peace agreements: an accord can establish moral commitments, but its effectiveness ultimately depends on whether political actors genuinely respect those commitments when electoral competition becomes difficult.

Sowore, Adebayo Express Reservations

Obi was not alone.

The presidential candidates of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, also expressed varying degrees of scepticism about the capacity of the peace accord to prevent violence during the election.

Their concerns suggest that confidence in the agreement itself may be insufficient unless electoral institutions, security agencies, political parties and candidates demonstrate impartiality and accountability throughout the process.

For opposition parties in particular, the central issue is likely to be whether every candidate receives equal treatment and whether violations of electoral laws attract consequences irrespective of the political status of those involved.

Tinubu, Obi, Sowore, Others Sign Accord

Despite the reservations, several presidential candidates participated in the peace process.

President Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, was represented by Akume, while Obi, Sowore and Adebayo participated alongside Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), and Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party.

Also present were APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, representatives of security agencies and other stakeholders.

However, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, were notably absent from the ceremony.

Why Opposition Doubts Matter Ahead of 2027

The reservations expressed by opposition candidates should not necessarily be interpreted as rejection of peaceful elections.

Instead, they highlight a deeper concern about the gap that can exist between political declarations and events on the ground.

Nigeria has repeatedly witnessed political parties and candidates publicly committing themselves to peaceful elections while accusations of intimidation, vote buying, inflammatory rhetoric and electoral malpractice subsequently dominate political discourse.

That history explains why the effectiveness of the 2027 peace accord may ultimately be measured not by the number of signatures collected but by what happens during campaigns, voting, collation and the announcement of results.

The Independent National Electoral Commission will consequently face enormous scrutiny.

INEC Chairman Amupitan has separately assured Nigerians that the commission will not favour any candidate or political party in the 2027 elections, an assurance likely to become increasingly important as campaigns gather momentum.

Security Agencies Face Major Test

The security agencies will also have a significant role.

Political violence often begins before election day through threats, clashes between supporters, destruction of campaign materials and inflammatory statements.

Preventing such incidents requires security agencies to intervene professionally without creating the impression that enforcement is targeted selectively against particular political interests.

For the peace accord to command public confidence, Nigerians will therefore expect security institutions to demonstrate neutrality and enforce the law consistently.

From Ceremonial Signing to Real Accountability

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the National Peace Accord is enforcement.

The document represents an important moral undertaking among candidates, but questions remain about what happens when its provisions are violated.

This is where Obi’s argument becomes significant: voters may ultimately possess one of the strongest instruments for sanctioning politicians whose conduct undermines peaceful democratic competition.

Civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, the media and election observers will equally have important responsibilities in documenting violations and demanding accountability.

2027 Campaigns Begin Under Intense Scrutiny

The timing of Tuesday’s peace accord is significant.

Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on Wednesday, August 19, opening what is expected to be months of intense political competition across Nigeria.

At the same time, opposition groups are increasing efforts to build a common political front ahead of the election. The G100 political movement and the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives have intensified consultations aimed at strengthening opposition cooperation, reflecting concerns that fragmentation could again weaken opposition forces.

These developments indicate that the 2027 contest may be fought not only over personalities and political parties but also over the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The Real Test Is Still Ahead

The National Peace Accord has once again provided Nigeria’s political leaders with an opportunity to publicly commit themselves to peaceful democratic competition.

But the doubts expressed by Obi, Sowore and Adebayo underline an uncomfortable reality: signing an accord is easier than respecting it when political stakes rise.

President Tinubu’s declaration that the election must not become a do-or-die affair therefore places responsibility on both the ruling party and the opposition to demonstrate through their actions that political competition does not have to threaten national stability.

For Nigerians, however, peaceful campaigns alone may not be enough.

The bigger expectation will be an election in which voters can participate without intimidation, electoral officials can perform their duties independently, security agencies remain neutral, results accurately reflect ballots cast and legitimate grievances are resolved through lawful institutions.

If those conditions are achieved, the 2027 National Peace Accord could become more than another ceremonial document.

If they are not, the scepticism expressed by opposition candidates at its signing may become one of the defining debates of the election.